Dictionary.com was very mindful and very cutesy when choosing its 2024 Word of the Year.
This year’s title went to viral sensation “demure,” a word popularized by TikToker Jools Lebron.
“In making the annual selection, Dictionary.com’s lexicographers analyzed a wealth of data—including newsworthy headlines, search engine results and social media trends—to identify words that captured pivotal moments in 2024. The word demure dominated the cultural zeitgeist, with its usage in digital media surging a remarkable 1,200% between January and August,” the online dictionary platform said in a statement.
Demure took social media by storm in early August after Lebron used the phrase in her now-viral videos to explain how someone could be demure and mindful in the workplace, the airport, and other public spaces.
Dictionary.com defines demure as “characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved,”
Demure beat out other popular words on the website’s shortlist, including “Brainrot,” “Brat,” “Extreme Weather,” “Midwest Nice,” and “Weird.”
Dictionary.com isn’t the only website that has announced its Word of the Year. Cambridge Dictionary named “manifest” its Word of the Year on Nov. 20.
Last week, Oxford University announced its shortlist for Word of the Year, which includes slop, romantasy, lore, brainrot, demure and dynamic pricing.
In a video on TikTok, Lebron reacted to “demure” being named Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year.